Youngster Vocal with Tail - Is It The Breeding?

[pryme_thyme]

Wondering if anyone knows the Sensation/Barr lines and how personality develops?

Background. I purchased a very nice two year old last fall, he was shown on the line and taught much ground work. Pretty sensitive / worrier type but you cannot tell until you know him well.
He likes to really play with the bit lounging or under saddle and is vocal only with his tail.
We solved the mouthy-ness with a happy mouth Mullen, now very happy.
However, he shows all his moods in his tail. Being the analytic type I need to figure it out.

He wags happily like a dog when playing with other horses or us. Wags when grooming an itchy spot. Two types of wag under saddle… Deep thinker which is a gentle fly wag. But also frustrated wag but not a real wringing you would think for anger.
Vet thinks it is just him. Tack checked, feet good, treated for ulcers as precaution, up to date on worming etc.

That being said… His wag does cease when something is simple.

Any insight? I seem to feel mental immaturity… I should note, he was a stallion until three months ago…

[Aces_N_Eights]

The lines you talking about are not in my realm of experience but I will say I know quite a few trainers who will claim certain lines use their tails more than others or are notorious “tail wringers”.
Without watching it would be hard for me to say what is going on. I know some horses will use their tail when concentrating hard or putting a lot of effort into what you are asking them and some folks will mistake it for tail wringing.
Based off what you’re saying I’d suspect mental immaturity and a worrier as well with him playing with the bit. I doubt the use of the tail goes away. It has been my experience once they start doing it they don’t stop.

Has he had any time off since showing on the line and being started under saddle?

[WNT]

A horse’s tail is a pretty important part it’s body language. It sounds like he’s trying to communicate something to you. Perhaps trying to figure what he’s trying to say is more important than wondering if it if genetic.

[beowulf]

@WNT

A horse’s tail is a pretty important part it’s body language. It sounds like he’s trying to communicate something to you. Perhaps trying to figure what he’s trying to say is more important than wondering if it if genetic.

OP started the thread to suss out what it could be - I think she is trying to figure out what it is, given a vet was involved.

OP could it be saddle fit? Generally active tail movement can be a sign of discomfort, perhaps it is the saddle? One of our horses on the farm makes it real obvious when it’s time to have the saddle reflocked.

[WNT]

I jumped to a bit of a conclusion, hoping that the horse isn’t being aimed for a career field where a “vocal” tail is seen as a serious fault, and if he is a solution is found instead of just blaming his bloodline for having opinionated tails. I hope it doesn’t curtail OP’s future plans for him.

[Spotless]

I didn’t believe it before, but I now do believe it could be genetic.

I have an Artful Investment baby who is going to be 8 but due to an injury setback has the training (and thus mentality) of a four year old, although he is quickly catching up. He doesn’t wring his tail at all, but he is very vocal about it even when the rest of his body is relaxed and content. It sounds a lot like your horse.

Last year I found out that he had a full sister, a year younger, and tracked her down. Her owner asked me if my horse has an active tail like her mare. The mare is trained out the wazoo and looks pretty happy from videos, but when her fake tail is off she has a vocal tail as well. These two were bred by the same breeder, weaned, and sold to homes several states away from each other.

[sdlbredfan]

@WNT

A horse’s tail is a pretty important part it’s body language. It sounds like he’s trying to communicate something to you. Perhaps trying to figure what he’s trying to say is more important than wondering if it if genetic.

This!!! The WP preoccupation with a horse’s natural use of its tail, and attempts to stop if (including with surgical and chemical means) is bizarre. Would those same people try to prevent a dog or cat from moving its tail???

FYI, if a tendency is genetic in origin, it probably would have to do with the sensitivity level of the animals in question. If the horse’s use of its tail is bothersome, it is certainly advisable to find out what is bothering the animal. Bear in mind that some movement of the tail is natural because (huge gasp of surprise) - it is ATTACHED TO THE SPINE, and horse’s spine is DESIGNED TO MOVE. The tail therefore, as an extension of that spine might also move from time to time.

[pryme_thyme]

Thank you for the responses. To be honest the tail can do what it likes, my personality demands answers just in case.

He is extremely sensitive to the leg and tries it heart out to get things right.

He had about a year off as I understand, purely being a pasture puff with the occasional grooming.

I had some serious fit issues with my last horse, that was where I actually started. At this point in his growing he is very much a shark withered TB looking type. Pretty hollow behind the wither yet. His spine is less fleshy than my last horse but she was a wine barrel to ride!

I had my saddle readjusted to narrow tree, it is a CAIR system but the panels were checked for deflation.
I also purchased a Laflamelle (spelling), half pad with spine relief and shims. I have shimmed the shoulders, since this is the one spot where the panels do not quiet sit flat, everywhere else things look good.
Girth is a cotton girth with sheepskin.

In the end… the tail is fine. I will try to get some video. It is just weird. He even wags his tail when he sees grain or hay coming.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB04ls1vFz4 here is a video of our typical rides in the deep freeze this winter, thank goodness the heat is coming. I am so sick of being a snowman!
Mind you canter isn’t something we work on much, so it is a work in progress.

[sdlbredfan]

I am glad to know the tail is allowed to move, as the horse sees fit to move it. (I have read too many horror stories about some Western horses having had their tails so (chemically or surgically) deadened they even have trouble lifting it to pass manure.)